Over-the-Counter Snoring Treatments

There are all sorts of treatments for snoring available, from simple over the counter remedies available from any pharmacy, to more specialized snoring treatments such as chin straps, to expensive laser procedures. In this article, we will focus on those snoring treatments that you can buy at your local drugstore or supermarket pharmacy.

Why Does My Snoring Even Need Treatment?

Quite apart from keeping your spouse or partner awake, snoring can have negative effects on your own health. As well as being a result of sleep apnea (an interruption of breathing during sleep), it can also cause it, thus depriving the body of vital oxygen. It has also been linked to diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Sleep deprivation resulting from snoring can also lead to tiredness, irritability and loss of focus the following day. If you snore, it is vital that your snoring receives treatment as soon as possible.

Shopping for Snoring Treatments

Snoring treatments available in stores fall into three categories: nasal strips, throat sprays and electronic devices. Let's look at each of these in turn.

Nasal strips were invented by Bruce Johnson, creator of the Breathe Right strip. They typically come in regular or mentholated varieties, the latter being impregnated with menthol to release decongestant fumes when scratched, and in small or large sizes to fit different sizes of nose. They work by opening up the air passages in the nose, which can become blocked by nasal congestion, in order to allow easier breathing.

Throat sprays contain a blend of natural oils designed to lubricate throat tissue. They work on the membranes in the back of the throat, which can become dry and vibrate, causing snoring. The spray shrinks and tightens the membrane, thus stopping snoring at its source. More recently, the same blend of oils has become available in liquid form, which you gargle with before going to bed, and throat strips, which you place on your tongue and allow to dissolve, coating the back of the throat with the oils contained in the throat strip. All these products can be combined with the nasal strips to provide a two-pronged assault on the causes of snoring.

Electronic anti-snoring devices are worn on the wrist, attached to the skin by electrodes, and work by using sensors to detect snoring. When snoring is detected, the electronic device emits a pulse of energy that triggers a reflex action, either a tightening of the throat muscles or a change in position to one that makes it easier to breathe.